Determinants of Scope Creep in Selected Construction Projects in the Cape Metropolis

Construction industry in the Cape Metropolis, like in many urban regions globally, is marked by its dynamism and challenges. The uncontrolled expansion of a project’s original objectives due to scope creep, resulting in added costs, delays, and often a decline in stakeholder satisfaction. This study is aimed at exploring determinants of scope creep during the delivery of construction projects within the context of Cape metropolis. A qualitative approach was adopted, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with the selected participants through purposive sampling. Atlas.ti software was used for thematic analysis of the data. The study found that the lack of community involvement, inadequate environmental analysis, cultural perspective and indigenous worldviews accounts for scope creep during the delivery of construction projects within the context of Cape metropolis. This study suggests that Municipalities should establish an inclusive stakeholder engagement framework that facilitates early and continuous participation of community members throughout the project lifecycle. Through integrating community input at the planning stage, such that project objectives can be more closely aligned with the needs and expectations of the end-users, thereby minimising the risk of subsequent scope alterations and associated delays. This study has the potential to contribute to municipal policies, theories, and practices in ensuring the scope of the construction project adequately addresses the needs of all project stakeholders and improved service delivery.